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Cracking And Sticking

The crew heard a noise when the landing gear was retracted. The left landing gear remained in a partially retracted position, unable to retract or extend. A successful gear-up landing ensued. The l/h landing gear actuator body (p/n 128101-3) had cracked at the forward mounting bolt hole, allowing the actuator bore to open enough that the piston would not engage the pivot sector gear sufficiently to move the landing gear.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Cessna 172RG experienced a cracked main landing gear actuator, leading to the left gear remaining partially retracted and a subsequent gear-up landing.
  • A Piper PA-44-180 had two newly installed fuel selector valves fail prematurely, becoming "sticky" or stuck at their detents after very low time-in-service.
  • Multiple ECI Revision 3 "E" series cylinders on Continental IO-520 engines were found cracked behind the fuel injector, between the first and third fins, detectable only by compression check.
  • A Sensenich wooden propeller on a Piper PA-18-150 became dangerously loose due to multiple bolts backing out, broken safety wire, and a broken attachment bushing, causing vibration.
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Cessna 172RG

Cracked Main Gear Actuator

The crew heard a noise when the landing gear was retracted. The left landing gear remained in a partially retracted position, unable to retract or extend. A successful gear-up landing ensued.

Loose Wood Propeller

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